The number of newborns born in Japan declined for the eighth year in a row to a new record low in 2023, according to preliminary official data released on Tuesday, highlighting the country’s onerous mission of combating depopulation.
The number of births declined 5.1% from the previous year to 758,631, while the number of weddings fell 5.9% to 489,281 — the first time in 90 years that the number fell below 500,000 — indicating a further decline in the population, as out-of-wedlock births are uncommon in Japan.
When asked about the latest figures, Japan’s top government spokeswoman stated that the government will take “unprecedented steps” to address the dropping birthrate, such as expanding childcare and pushing salary increases for younger workers.
“The declining birthrate is in a critical situation,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters. “The next six years or so until 2030, when the number of young people will rapidly decline, will be the last chance to reverse the trend.”
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, aware of the potential social and economic impact, as well as the demands on public finances, has referred to the trend as the “gravest crisis our country faces” and announced a series of measures to assist child-bearing homes late last year.
According to forecasts from the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, Japan’s population will fall by nearly 30% to 87 million by 2070, with four out of every ten persons aged 65 or over.
